Switch mechanism



C. A. PSILANDER SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.30|1921.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

UNITED STATES CHARLES A. PSILANDER, 0F EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNDR T0 WILLIAM WEAR/TON, JR. & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF EASTON,

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PENNSYLVANIA, A

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application filed December 30, 1921. Serial No. 526,013.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. CHARLES A. Psrn-m- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically or mechanically operated switches for use on street railways and the like.

One of the principal objections to an electric throw or to a quiclcaoting mechanical throw is that the tongue is moved so quickly that it splashes mud and water.

The present invention was devised primarily to overcome this objection, and, generally stated, embodies a novel spring lock and retarding couple which is effective in both directions and which permits the ton ue-actuating mechanism to function rapidly for say half the throw and then effects the final traverse of the tongue at such a slow and regulated rate as to preclude any possibility of splashing. I am aware that retarding mechanism forthe purpose stated has heretofore been proposed, but it was cumbersome and occupied. too much. space and was efi'ective in one direction only.

Generally speaking, my invention is embodied in a spring lock co-operating with the tongue rod, and in a retarding element, such as a dash-pot, the sternof which is are iallyaligned with and directly connected to the tongue rod, all of said parts being contained and operating in the usual small box disposed at one side of the switch structure.

The nature, characteristic features and.

S00 e of the invention will more readily be an erstood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein, Figure 1 is a plan view of an anti-splash switch provision embodying features of my invention, the casing cover being removed.

Fig. 2 is a view principally in longitudinal section, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover. The switch structure 5, including the movable tongue 6, is or may be as usual. The tongue rod 7 is fixedly mounted with respect to the tongue on one side by means of a connection member 8, havinga socket 9 tapped to engage the threads of the rod, the end. of

the socket bearing against the tongue. The connection member 8 has aperforated offset portion 10 for attachment of an appropriate electrical or other throwing device, not shown.

The'oppositeiend of the tongue rod extends, as usual, into a box orcasing 11, located, as usual, at one side of the switch body and secured thereto by bolts 12. A; pipe section 13, enclosing this end of the tongue rod, and backed up against the tongue by amb nuts 14:, co-operates with the connectlon member 8 to maintain a rigid connection between the tongue and its rod. 1 The box or casing 11 houses the spring lock and retarding assembly hereinbefore referred to. The spring lock unit embodies a double wedge member 15, slidably mounted on the tongue rod and restrained in the p0:

sition to which it may be adjusted by nuts 16 and 17. (lo-operating with the'wedge or look 15 are pivotal arms 18, one on each side thereof, and located on the tongue side of the wedge- The arms18 have rolling contact with the wedge faces of the block 15 through the agency of rollers 19 journaled in the bifurcated ends of the arms, the journal being a bolt 20. -'l.he pivotal or hinge mounting for each. arm is a bolt or pintle 21, grav- 1 Y ity restrained. in perforated top and bottom lugs 22 and 23, cast integral with the her; or casing. The arms slightly elbowed in the manner indicated, which admits of the use of-relatively longfiat leaf'springs 24:. The latter arefrictionally restrained at one end in lugs 25, cast integral with the box, and at the other end are riveted to the 'respective arms 18, as at 26, near the pivotal endthereof. The springs 2t hold the arms 18 effectively against the wedge block 15, but permit them to roll over and bear on the other face in response to appropriate movement of the tongue.

The other unit of the couple or assembly is a dash-pot mechanism, generally indicated at A, because any simple type of dash-pot will answer the purpose, and the details of the same are too well known to require mi- 'nute description here, other than to say that removal,

rod, and the introduction therein of a rod or other implement, permits one or the other to be held against rotation to ellect the assemblage or removal of the parts. '1. hns all the parts are easily accessible and capable of quick detachable connection, the dash-pot being held to place by cars 30 which are locked relatively to the casing by bolts 2-31 passing through the ears and through lugs 32 cast integral with the box or casing.

It will be apparent from the showing that the switch-actuating mechanism (not shown) whether it be an electric throw or a quickacting mechanical throw, moves the tongue only to just past the mid position, due to the restraining action of the described spring lock and retardingassembly, and that thereupon the spring-pressed arms 18 rolling on theincl'ined faces of the lock 15, complete the movement ata slow and regulated rate underthe retarding influence of the dashpot.

The box or casing .11 has o iieniu'gs 33 in the bottom thereof for, drainage purpcw'es, and is provided with an appropriate cover 34., feature of the latter is the provision ofpdepending angular lugs 35, which, re. speotively, fit the spaces between the box lugs 25 and the clash-pot cars 30, and thus Securely hold the cover against accidental displacement, while simplifying its proper Having described my invention, I claim;-

, 1. switch mechanism ofthe' type recited; the combination with a movable tongue,1of a tongue lock, pivotal members (so-Operating therewith, and fiat springs as i sociated with said pivotal members and applicable removable with them as a unit. 2.-In-switch mechanism of the type retilted, abox or casing, a tongue jmd pene tratingthe same and having a lock element with inclined faces, arms pivoted in the walls of the casing and having rolling contact with said inclined faces, and fiat springs meuntedin the walls of the casing and bear ing against said arms.

3. 1:1 switch mechanism of it the type recited, a box or casing, a tongue rod pene. tlating the same, a spring lock cooperating therewith, and a dash-pot for controlling the final movement of the tongue, andwhereoil the stem has a quick detachable connection with the tongue rod, said dash-pot having ears which interlock with the walls of the casing.

4. In switch mechanism of the type re cited, a box or casing, a tongue rod penc tinting the same, a lock co-operating there with, an auxiliary retarding element operatively connected to the rod and having ears in interlocking engagement with the walls of the casing, and a cover for the boa ha ving depending angular projections which co-operate with the contents of the box to hold the cover in place.

In switch mechanism of the type re cited, the combination with a switch struc ture, ii'iclnding a movable tongue, of means eflective to permit rapid movement of the tongue to substantially half throw, and to complete the movement of the tongueat a slow and regulated rate said means coin: n'ising a tongue rod, a tongue l0(l pivotal members cooperating therewith, compression elements associatedwith said pivotal members and applicable and removable with them as a unit, and retarding mechanism responsive to shifting of the: tongue for controlling the ultimate movement thereot in either direction.

*6. In switch mechanism of'the type recited, the combination with a movable tongue and its rod,of a box .or casing, penetrated by said rod, a tongue lock, means'cuoperating: therewith includingpivotal members and compression members applicable and removable as a unit, and a daishvpot for controlling the final movement of the tongue tindwhereof. the stem hasa' quick detachable connection with the tonguerod, all of said parts being freely accessible for facile application and removal from the box creasing. 3 r 1 In testimony whereof-I afiix. my signature.

CHARLES A. PSILANDER 

